Method of controlling microorganisms



United States Patent 3,184,379 METHOD OF CONTROLLING MICROORGANISMS George E. Lukes, Irvington, N.Y., and Thomas B. Williamson, Santa Clara, Calif., assignors to Stauifer Chemical Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Feb. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 172,849 2 Claims. (Cl. 167-32) This invention pertains to a method of controlling pest microorganisms by contacting them with certain substituted 2-halomethyl aryl ketones. The invention is also concerned with the preparation, use and application of biocidally active compositions containing as the toxic component thereof at least one of the aforementioned halomethyl aryl ketones.

The present invention is predicated on the finding that certain halomethyl aryl ketones, particularly 2-brornoacetophenones, are highly toxic to microorganisms of the type which affect commercial food crops. We have, for instance, ascertained that these chemical compounds are especially eifective in combating certain varieties of destructive soil fungi such as Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solam and the like. Other deleterious microorganisms which are susceptible to the toxicants of the invention include bacteria and, in this case, reference is made to Aspergillus niger, Penicillium and Escherichia coli.

The halomethyl aryl ketones, the biocidal properties and use of which are contemplated herein, can be depicted by the following formulae:

wherein R R R and R designate hydrogen, a lower alkyl radical, a lower alkoxyl radical, amino, nitro and halogen e.g. fluorine, chlorine or bromine, it being understood at least one of said R R R and R is a substituent other than hydrogen and X can be chlorine or bromine. Specific configurations falling within the ambit of formulae I and II are exemplified in the list of structures below:

Compound 1 Compound 2 Compound 3 lTTOz I Ol Patented May 18, 1965 Compound 4 I CO-CH2BI' Compound 5 rnQ-QQO-cm-Br Compound 6 CO-C H2Br Compound 7 Cl C O--OH3B!' Compound 8 Compound 9 Compound 10 E30 o-Q-o O-GHz-Br Compound 11 QOMM,

Compound 12 Compound 13 C OCH2Cl (13H;

Compound 15 nor-Q0 0-0Hi-01 Compound 16 F-QC O-CH -Br Compound 17 Cl- C O-CHz-Br 1 Compound 18 Compound 19 Compound 20 Compound 21 Compound 22 Inez-Q O-GHr-Br Compound 23 cm on;

p Q0 o -oH,Br 7 Ha 7 H3 Compound 24 Q0 o-om-Br 0 H3 H3 7 Compound 25 0 CH3 Compound O C Ha Compound 27 V I O-CHz-Cl The halomethyl arylketones utilized in carrying outthe biocidal processes of this invention are, in'some cases,

known chemical entities and their description andfprepa' V 7 may be encountered wherein thehalogenationproceeds at an impractically low velocity and, in such instances, the reaction is accelerated by the use of catalysts,,and .for this purpose, certain anhydrous heavy metal salt halides,

In using the'2-halomethyl aryl ketones as contemplated herein, it is merely necessary to contact, with these toxinately dispersions of the compounds in a watermedia may be advantageously employed. Inthe latter case, the use of various surface active agents orsoaps may be desirable for the purpose of stabilizing the dispersions. Since the compounds of the invention have been found, to be nonphyto-toxic, the non-volatile representatives canibe mixed with talc'or other inert binder and the resultant mixture combined with the cotton or bean seed before planting into fungus infected soil. Fumigation techniques may also be resorted to if the volatility of the compound is sufiiciently high. The biocidal activity of the compounds of the invention are setforth in the'table' below:

In ascertaining the bactericidal activity of the herein "contemplated compounds, 1 oz. bottles were partially filled with 10 m1. of malt or nutrient broth, the containers capped with aluminum foil, sterilized and a solution of the compound to be testedinjected by means of a syringe through the foil into the broth. Water suspensions of such typical bacteria as Aspergillus niger, Penicillium and Escherichia coli were injected into the broth and the bottles sealedand held'forfone week, after which the bacteria' count was recorded.

' placed in' quart jars.

The activity of the compounds of'the invention against such soil fungi as Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani was determined by incorporating the microorganisms into sterilized. soil" and ,1 lb. portions of this admixture were A small depression was formed in the soil and filled with coarse sand; lrnl. of 5% acetone solution of the compound to be tested was introduced on to the sand and the jar sealed. The contents of the container were then thoroughly shaken and the V infected soil se eded'with representativecommercial crops r such as cotton or'Pinto beans. After an interval of about a 2'01" 3 weeks, the plantswere examined and the treated i.e. ferric chloride, zinc chloride etcLQare' .especially-efli- V nis'ms which comprises applying thereto'a 'small but eifective amount of a'Z-haIoniethyI aryl ketone of the followcacious. ;An alterna te procedu'r e yvhereby onemay 'ar-= stituents. Further details 0f the aforedisclosed reactions.

of which theivariousichemic ture are particularly useful.

- can be had byresorting to thejoriginal technical literature Ljouinals and patent litera-l. r r '75.

7 plants comparedwiththe'controls, having no treatment.

'Welclaim;

- 1,' A method of inhibiting: the growth of microorga- 5 E 2. A method of inhibiting the growth of microorga- References Cited by the Examiner nisms which comprises applying thereto a small but eflec- UNITED STATES PATENTS t1ve amount of 2-ha1ornethy1 naphthyl ketonc of the fol- 2,901,394 8/59 Rosher lowing formula.

5 FOREIGN PATENTS 43043112.); 1,330,953 6/62 France.

OTHER REFERENCES Chemical Abstracts, 49: 5848 1955.

10 wherein X is selected from the class consisting of chlorine LEWIS GOTTS Primary Exammer' and bromine. FRANK CACCIAPAGLIA, JR., Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF INHIBITING THE GROWTH OF MICROORGANISMS WHICH COMPRISES APPLYING THERETO A SMALL BUT EFFECTIVE AMOUNT OF A 2-HALOMETHYL ARYL KETONE OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA: 